40% of Europe's energy demand is consumed in buildings. The majority is used in heating or cooling residential and commercial buildings, and providing hot water. Many countries have included energy requirements into their building codes. The European Union has addressed this issue in its Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings (EPBD), which came into force in January 2003. It requires Member States to set minimum energy performance requirements for buildings, taking also into account the positive contribution of solar thermal and other renewable energy sources. 

In brief, the EC Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings (Directive 2002/91/EC, acronym: EPBD) requires all EU Member States to

• develop a calculation methodology for the energy performance of buildings (Art. 3)
• set and enforce minimum energy performance requirements for new built buildings and large buildings undergoing major renovation (Art. 4 to Art. 6)
• develop energy performance certificates for buildings, which must be shown to buyers/tenants when buildings/apartments are constructed, sold or rented out (Art. 7)
• ensure the regular inspection of certain boilers and air-conditioning systems (Art. 8 and Art. 9)

The EPBD must be transposed into national legislation by the beginning of 2006 (Art. 15).

The EPBD Buildings Platform has published a lot of useful information on the EPBD and its implementation by the 27 EU Member States.

The EPBD identifies solar thermal as one option for increasing the energy performance of a building (cf Annex of the Directive). Where the performance requirement is relatively strict, solar thermal is usually amongst the low-cost options. In The Netherlands strict energy performance requirements have significantly increased the number of new buildings equipped with solar thermal.

ESTIF has identified three main issues, influencing the effectiveness of the EPBD. Detailed recommendations as follows:

• The calculation methodology used: The full, positive influence of solar thermal must be taken into account when calculating the energy performance of buildings
• The energy performance requirements must be strict, and should be tightened every 1-2 years. This encourages the construction sector to develop improved options for better performing buildings
• Inclusion of more existing buildings: The EPBD fails to tackle energy demand in smaller existing buildings. Buildings below 1.000m2 of useful floor area should also apply minimum performance standards when they undergo major renovation.

Calculation of the energy performance

Member States are free to use their own methodologies for the energy performance calculation. Simultaneously CEN (European Committee for Standardisation) has produced an EN standard for such a methodology. ESTIF has been involved in the development of EN 15316-4-3: Heating systems in buildings - Method for calculation of system energy requirements and system efficiencies - Part 4-3: Heat generation systems, thermal solar systems. The result ensures that solar thermal is fully covered in CEN methodology. The EN standard can be ordered from one of CEN's national members.

Strict and dynamic energy performance requirements

Because of the higher initial investment costs, requirements for high performance in buildings have not been a priority in the past. The construction sector therefore did not develop the efficient buildings that are technically possible. Governments should now encourage new developments by periodically tightening the energy performance requirements. See the full ESTIF position on dynamic energy performance requirements.

Energy Performance Certificates to show renewable energy production

In rented out buildings landlords have very little interest in making investments to improve energy performance as the running costs are paid by the tenant. Energy performance certificates will make the energy costs more transparent thus raising awareness for better performing buildings. ESTIF calls for an explicit inclusion of renewable in the share of energy: High figures signal low running costs and good environmental performance, thus increasing the property value. Read the ESTIF position on energy performance certificates.